The legal aid rules are different for foster parents and prospective adoptive parents. They do not have to meet the financial requirements (known as being means tested) for legal help or legal representation in SEND Tribunal appeal cases. Legal aid for a SEND Tribunal appeal is also available without a means test if the young person still lives with a former foster parent under a “staying put” arrangement and lacks mental capacity to appeal. You can find more information about this on the Public Law Project’s website.

For more information about getting help with an appeal, see our main advice page on this topic.